My Neath existence started in 1947 having moved there from Resolven at the age of three.

At that time Neath was very much a market town with the cattle market situated just outside the station.

It meant that most of the Western Welsh buses leaving the station yard had to crawl through people and cattle sprawled across the road.

Ah yes as a child the Neath Fair was indeed an experience.

All the roads leading up to the fairground opposite the Gnoll cinema were packed with stalls and black with people like a river of ants passing moving slowly along.

It was the days of the Teddy Boys and so many sidestalls with peep shows (world's tallest man, shortest woman etc) dancing girls and boxers who would fight anyone.

In 1960 at the age of 16 I served an apprenticeship with the Western Welsh Omnibus company, going on to work at other places before leaving Neath in 1967 to seek new challenges.

I returned latter that year to marry a local girl and eventually we relocated to Wakefield.

I recognise all those same feelings that others have written about, as I drive "home", always cheering loudly (at any time of the night or day) as we pass the Welsh Dragon near Monmouth.

One thing I still find strange...and that is that Neath's traffic is now anti clockwise.

Ah well times change, but the love for the place does not.

If you enjoyed this why not see Beryl's account of the swinging 'sixties or Mike's images of the Neath Fair.